3375-2-07
Regional library system.

(A)
In carrying
out its responsibilities under Chapter 3375. of the Revised Code and in
approving regional library system (RLS) plans, the state library board shall
keep in mind the overall and long-range needs for assuring library services to
the residents of Ohio and will base its decisions and actions upon these needs.

The state library board will grant a charter to a RLS and
declare its eligibility for subsidy only after the approval of the submitted
plan and demonstration that the RLS board has been organized in accordance with
the statutes and this rule.

(1)
Four
or more libraries, representing two or more types of libraries, in a single
metropolitan area, or public libraries in two or more counties, may submit a
plan for the formation of a regional library system.

(2)
The plan shall demonstrate that the
proposed boundaries do not overlap the boundaries of an existing state library
chartered library system.

(3)
The
plan shall be prepared and submitted in a form determined by the state
librarian.

(4)
The plan shall
contain a draft set of bylaws covering the organization, administration, and
operation of the RLS which will be approved by the membership after charter is
granted.

(5)
The regional library
system shall be governed by a board of trustees consisting of at least seven
and not more than fifteen persons to be selected from among the duly appointed
representatives of the member institutions. The number of trustees, the manner
of selection, the term of office and the provision for filling vacancies shall
be determined and set forth in the bylaws.

(6)
The RLS plan shall show how the proposed
RLS will promote access to library materials and services required by area
residents; provide the staff resources necessary to bring about the effective
use of library materials and provision of services required by area residents;
and promote the library network connections required so that Ohio's library and
information resources are available to all area residents.

(7)
The plan shall identify the regional
library system needs, methods by which goals and objectives are carried out,
and a planned evaluation process addressing the total plan.

(8)
Membership: Participating libraries may
be full voting members of only one existing state library chartered regional
library system. The plan may include a separate category of membership for
associate members.

(9)
The RLS
plan shall be based upon the following principles and shall clearly state the
application of each principle proposed:

(a)
The plan is suitable for the geographic, demographic, educational and economic
features of the area.

(b)
The plan
shows the organization to be built on existing strengths of the current
resources, services, and facilities of member libraries.

(c)
The plan provides for the addition and
withdrawal of member libraries, and definition and change of boundaries.

(d)
The plan provides for
coordination of library resources and services, cooperation with other
libraries, library organizations, and other regional library systems; and for
contracting with other libraries, other state library chartered regional
library systems, and/or other legal entities to provide and/or receive
services.

(e)
The plan provides
that the board of trustees, elected from the member institutions, establishes
adequate criteria for the selection and evaluation of its RLS director who will
have authority to appoint staff, prepare budgets, and administer programs for
the RLS. Qualifications for the RLS director shall include, as a minimum, a
masters in library and information science (MLS) degree from a library school
accredited by the "American Library Association." The plan provides for the
board of trustees to hire a clerk as a treasurer of the organization's funds.
The clerk shall carry out the duties as defined in section
3375.92 of the Revised Code. The
RLS director and staff shall have the same employment status as employees of
public libraries.

(f)
The plan
assures that each member library has a method for providing input to and
evaluation of the plan.

(g)
The
plan is designed to meet the library service needs within the region.

(i)
Resources. The plan shall show how the
system will provide for an effective utilization of library resources and a
plan to provide access to those resources.

(ii)
Services. The plan shall show how the
system will provide for identification and coordination of services for the
area.

(iii)
Special staff. The
plan shall demonstrate provision of services, on a systemwide basis, by
professional specialists to address the identified area needs. These
specialists may be staff members of participating libraries.

(h)
Administration: The plan shall
assure adherence to applicable Ohio law and state library regulations in the
operation of the regional library system. The administrative element of the
plan will be sufficiently detailed to demonstrate how the program objectives
will be accomplished.

(i)
The plan
shall include provision for identifying and providing access to materials not
available within the RLS.

(j)
The
plan shall make specific provision for staff development to raise the level of
library services.

(k)
The plan
shall encourage a coordinated and ongoing public information program to make
people aware of the services provided by the member libraries and encourage the
use of these services.

(l)
The
plan shall include a timetable for reaching specific levels of service
throughout the area as related to paragraph (B)(7) of this rule.

(m)
The plan shall outline the methods for
continual evaluation. Evaluation shall be related to the stated objectives of
the RLS; scope and extent of services, and progress in adopting new
developments and techniques to improve direct service as related to paragraphs
(B)(7) and (B)(9)(1) of this rule. A report of such evaluation shall be
submitted annually to the state library board.

(n)
The plan shall include provision for
regular reporting to the RLS membership and submission to the state library of
an annual fiscal and narrative report and other reports as required.

(10)
The RLS plan shall include a
detailed biennial program budget and a four-year budget projection.

(11)
The fiscal year of the RLS shall be
defined by the state fiscal year (July first through June thirtieth).

The state library board will charter a regional library system
upon approval of the library system's plan. The state library staff will
evaluate the RLS plan and submit its recommendations and comments for
consideration by the state library board.

(1)
The comments and recommendations of the
state library staff shall be submitted to the state library board which will
approve or disapprove the RLS plan. If approval is granted, the state library
board will grant charter to the, RLS and declare the RLS eligible to receive
subsidy funds and apply for grants from the state library board.

(2)
In order to provide an appeal channel in
the event a plan is disapproved and chartering denied, applicants may request a
hearing before the state library board for review of the plan. Such a request
must be filed with the state librarian within thirty days of state library
board action.

(1)
State aid subsidy fund grants
will be made for the support of the administrative and operational needs of the
regional library system upon the chartering of the regional library system and
the appropriation of funds by the general assembly.

(2)
The state library will evaluate the
biennial programs and budgets and shall submit comments and recommendations to
the state library board. The state library board will set the level of the
subsidy request.

(3)
If
insufficient subsidy funds are appropriated to finance all requests of the
chartered systems, the state library board shall give priority funding to those
systems successfully carrying out a state library approved plan of service as
evaluated by the state library staff, and may reduce the grants
proportionately.

(4)
Subsidy fund
payments shall be made according to the statutes and this rule, and the terms
of written agreements between the RLS board and the state library board. These
agreements shall, among other things, specify the RLS board to which payment is
to be made; the purposes for which the funds are to be expended; specify the
amount, time and manner of payment; specify that payment is to be conditioned
upon receipt by the state library board of progress reports from the RLS as
related to paragraphs (B)(9)(m) and (B)(9)(n) of this rule; specify that the
subsidy grant can be expended only in augmentation, and not in lieu of, local
appropriations.

(a)
Payments in subsequent
years shall be contingent upon the state librarian's confirmation to the state
library board that the RLS board has submitted all reports as required, has
submitted its biennial program and annual program statement updates, and is
functioning in accordance with the RLS plan.

(b)
The state library board may require the
RLS as a condition to receiving any future payments, to supply additional
information as it shall deem necessary.